Shane Basen

Classroom

Shane Basen is a two-time Capital One Academic All-American (Second-Team in 2012, First-Team in 2013), the fourth academic All-American award (second to earn First-Team) for a baseball player in school history. He is a three-time Academic All-Conference award winner in the Atlantic 10 Conference (every year he was eligible to win such an honor) and has appeared on the University’s Chancellor’s List (3.8 GPA or better) in all eight semesters. He currently holds a 3.97 cumulative GPA (4.0 within his majors) working towards a double-major in accounting and finance, after posting one B and all A’s for his entire academic career. He earned his degree at graduation ceremonies in May. Basen was also accepted into the graduate program at Charlotte and plans to get a Master’s in Accountancy with the end goal of becoming a Certified Public Accountant. He will work an internship this summer at Deloitte and Touche, one of the Big Four professional services firms in the world, before returning to campus in the fall to begin graduate study. He was awarded a scholarship by Deloitte and Touche, as well as one or four Post Graduate scholarships by the A-10 Conference to go with his graduate assistantship he earned in the Accounting Department with the University this fall.

Character

A recruited walk-on, Shane Basen played his way into the lineup and became Charlotte’s regular starting third baseman midway through that 2010 season and has missed just one game in the past two and a half seasons for the 49ers. He claims not to be the “most talented or gifted baseball player,” but one who works hard to get the most out of his abilities. He says the key to any success he has had in life is “Preparation… The more you put in, the more you will get out of anything that you do.”

Basen credits his parents with his drive and competitive nature. The rules in the house growing up were to finish all homework first before going to the field, but his parents were always available to take him to the field to play sports. His preparation has put him in position not only to succeed on the field (adding 30 points to his batting average from 2011 to 2012), but his hard work in the classroom earned him Capital One Academic All-American recognition last year. He came to Charlotte with an appetite to problem solve, and was introduced to accounting. After the first few classes in the field, “it sort of clicked for me.” Basen has set goals for himself beyond baseball. “I heard the CPA exam is tough, where only a small percentage pass it the first time, so I want to take that on next.”

Community

Basen has worked with many projects in the community, through the baseball program, the 49ers Athletics Department and the Business Honors program at the University. Last fall, the baseball team paired up with the Miracle League, a local YMCA project that began in the fall of 2012. The organization opened its new facility that allows kids with disabilities to play baseball on a specially-designed field that accommodates kids with varying disabilities on their own safe and functional field. Basen and the baseball program spent multiple fall Saturdays teaching the game of baseball and getting those kids into the games. Basen made a personal connection at the Miracle League games, discovering that a previous coach of his had a child with a disability and he visited with them on their living situation. “It taught me how precious life is and that I am truly blessed to have the things I have and the ability to do the things I am able to do.”

In 2010-11, Basen worked with the local March of Dimes chapter on some database work in their main Charlotte offices. Basen has participated in the Avon Walk and the Stroll for Epilepsy events on campus in the city of Charlotte. He was also selected as a speaker at Harrisburg Elementary School, talking to the entire second grade. He and a teammate spoke on topics of baseball and staying in school and had a question-and-answer session with a little over one hundred second graders during their visit.

Competition

Basen finished his career by starting Charlotte’s last 150 consecutive games of his total 198 games started and 208 games played, helping the 49ers to three conference regular-season titles. He led the team and finished second in the Atlantic 10 Conference with 49 RBI. He was second on the team and tied for third in the A-10 with 45 runs scored, finishing second at Charlotte and tying for sixth in the conference with 75 hits for the year. He was the only 49er to turn in a five-RBI game in 2012, and was just one of two to drive in five runs in a game in 2013, thanks to a grand slam he hit on his birthday in Charlotte’s final win of 2013, a 12-3 win in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament over Xavier on 5/24. It was the only grand slam of his career and the only homer of eight total for his career that he hit at home. In 2011, he played third base for all but one game for the 49ers en route to the team’s 43-16 finish, its fourth conference title in five years and third trip to the NCAA Regionals in that span. Basen finished 30th in the country in walks, leading the league with 44, while batting .298 and leading the team with 17 doubles. That team also captured its third postseason win, a 3-2 decision over No. 19 Arkansas in the Tempe, Ariz. Regional. Basen was named to the 2010 A-10 All-Tournament Team, after helping Charlotte to a regular-season conference title. He finishes his career tied for the fifth-most triples (11) in team history, eighth in defensive assists (494), 11th in games started and tied for 12th in games played. He is also in the Top 20 in program history in RBI (17th, 143) and stolen bases (tied-18th, 41).